Thursday, May 17, 2012

Sunday the 12 of
May was the awards ceremony of Ceramics Southern Africa’sUltra-Furn Regional
Exhibition. The exhibition runs from 13 - 25 May at Museum Africa, downtown in
Newtown, Johannesburg, Gauteng. Gallery hours are Tues-Sun: 09:00-17:00. Take
note the museum is closed on Mondays.

I was requested
to take the photos of each and every selected piece for a visual catalogue
available on CD, to also do the layout and display of the ceramic pieces,
including the opening address. The images featured here provide insight into
the layout of the exhibition, the award winning pieces and a select few of my
favourites. This is the second time I was involved with the layout and display
of each and every work. I have mounted
numerous exhibitions over the years, too many to number.

Pamela Schroeder.

Nic Sithole

I love
doing it and always strive to showcase each and every piece to maximum effect –
keeping in mind that each and every ceramist dream of getting their work
selected for this awards exhibition and the national. Bearing testament to
their persistence in mastering the discipline specific skills of this age-old
craft tradition. This is the ultimate platform to gain recognition for your
work – amongst your fellow ceramists and peers, often in the company of your
mentor and or local role-models.

John Shirley.

This year setting up the exhibition was a lot easier. To be honest, it was a real
pleasure and honour. Because I photographed each and every work, I had perfect
insight into the diverse range of works selected for the awards exhibition,
including the award winning pieces.

Kim Sacks

I could therefore consider various layout options
for the exhibition, visualizing the work within the space. I have done a few
exhibitions at the museum. The layout for the exhibition came to me at three the morning of setting up the exhibition . I decided to divide the exhibition into specific sections; aiming
to exhibit work demonstrating similar qualities, characteristics and
appearance.

Sandy Godwin

It is always important to consider enough space for each work, enabling viewers to
appreciate the work from all angles, whilst addressing the fragile nature of
the work on display. I always try to exhibit each piece on its own plinth –
grouping the work of each artist together, or in close proximity. A large
percentage of the ceramists’ explored fragility and translucency, their work required
a space with sufficient light to best display their inimitable vitrified
surfaces.

Michelle Legg

Although there
were figurative ceramic statements, the largest ceramic works on display were
pots. The vessel takes centre stage at this year’s exhibition, winning the
major awards. Pots in all shapes, sizes, and techniques and with a variety of
surface development options are on display. Demonstrating that Gauteng province
has a diverse range of skilled potters to transfer skills to aspiring ceramists
within the local communities. This exhibition is a perfect ensemble of ceramic
work – demonstrating the diverse range and creative scope of clay techniques
and methods available in the region.

Cecilia Robinson.Premier Award Winner.

Congratulations
to the award winners.

Clover Premier Award for Expression

Cecilia Robinson.

Glazecor Premier Award for use.

Eunice Botes

Ndebele Milling & Mining Award.

Renata Kruyswijk

Lionheart Chemical Enterprises Award for Expression

Sandy Godwin

Belmont Ceramics Award for function

Nic Sithole

Potters Supplies & Mail Order Award

Karen Murray

Van Tuyl Kilns & Furnaces New Signatures Award

Poorvi Bhana

Gerhard van den Heever

Poorvi Bhana

The opening was
well attended and my display efforts were widely appreciated and acknowledged.
However I could not have done it alone, without the diligent support of Colleen
Lehmkuhl and her assistants. Great patience is required to achieve the desired
effect.

Margot Rudplph

Especially if you are running out of plinths with a
number of ceramic statements still requiring there own unique space and place
within the overall display. Regrouping and redressing existing displays is
required to incorporate all the selected works, the final few pieces the most
demanding in terms of time and energy.

Hazel Sherman

The focus of my opening address

Ceramics Southern Africais an
umbrella organization that requires all your support. Every individual potter,
studio ceramist, ceramic sculptor, ceramic crafts-person and ceramic artist
should feel obligated to make a contribution to the development of the
organization. Those who go along for the ride, capitalizing on its activities
to promote their work and ceramic endeavours should stop and ask what they are giving back to the organization. Many of its organisers are
getting older and require your support and assistance to ensure it delivers an effective
and efficient service to its members - well into the future.

Karen van der Riet

The future of
ceramics rests solely on the shoulders of this organization – every aspiring
ceramist requires its services in terms of his and her personal growth and
development. There are only a few Tertiary Ceramic Departments left in South
Africa (nothing in Johannesburg) and without the informal technology transfer
and training facilities of the members off Ceramic SA – there would be nothing,
absolutely nothing, not this awards exhibition, no national competitions, no
clay-day, no official website, nor a Facebook page – nothing, absolutely nothing. Make sure you
offer your expertise to ensure its growth and development, rather than
your indifference contributing to its demise.

Nic Sithole

This is an
exciting year for ceramists, as each region is hosting their awards exhibition,
followed by Ceramics SA’s Biennale Awards
Exhibition for 2012.

Title image: Ceramic installation with projected animation titled, and the ship sails on. In celebration of the Chinese year of the dragon. Follow link to view video on You Tube.EUGENE HŐN : CERAMIC ARTISTThe purpose of this blog is to inform you of the creative thinking behind my ceramic statements.I will therefore provide reference material to facilitate greater interaction with you in the development of ceramic concepts. The expressed views and posted comments are intended to illustrate how the ceramic statements act as a vehicle for an expanding discourseon relevant art, design and craft issues.

About Me

I am a ceramic artist with a passion for drawing. My ceramic statements are a creative response to the literary sources I choose to read. I am also an academic, recently appointed Director of the FADA Gallery at the University of Johannesburg. I am an artist that celebrates the handmade, with strong concepts and meaning that straddles the disciplines of ceramics, sculpture, drawing, artist’s books, digital printing, animation, video or digital projection Installation and ultimately design.